The Radical Dance of Celebration and the Sacred
Kathi Lipp
Today’s Truth
I have told you these things /so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete (John 15:11, NIV).
Friend to Friend
For years, I’ve heard the same message in sermons, Bible studies,
magazine articles, and on social media: Christmas is not about the
gifts, decorating, how the Christmas ham is prepared, parties or even
Christmas cookies. We are all supposed to stop doing All. The. Things.
and simply reflect in the glow of our Charlie Brown Christmas tree and
spend the entire month /rereading the story of Christ’s birth from Luke.
And for all those years, I’ve felt guilty /about being madly in love
with the “stuff” of Christmas. I love having friends and family over to
eat, drink (hot chocolate) and be merry. I enjoy filling our grown
kids’ stockings with care. I adore planning /for our family’s Christmas
Eve dinner. I even get a thrill /from sending out (and receiving)
Christmas cards.
While the world may go /overboard /when it comes /to “celebrating” the
season (just watch any video of a Wal-Mart /opening on Black Friday /to
see what I’m talking about . . .), in many ways, I’ve felt guilty /for
finding happiness /in any other way /than attending church and singing
Christmas carols. I know () we are to have joy at Christmastime, but does
God also care about our happiness?
One year, in the midst of the holiday season, a friend and I
discussed biblical joy and happiness. I told her () I’d heard a speaker
recently say, “Joy is in 155 verses in the KJV Bible, but happiness doesn’t appear in the Bible once.”
And she countered, “Well, you’re just plain wrong.”
And she was right. Happiness not only appears /several times /in the Bible, but it’s something () God values highly.
For example:
“But may the righteous be glad and rejoice /before God; may they be happy and joyful.” (Psalm 68:3)
But if happiness is important to God, why do we feel guilty about it?
Perhaps we get caught up /in the expectations of others,
and get busy with the doing of Christmas /instead of in the being of Christmas.
Here are two things to keep in mind /as we balance the celebration with the sacred.
- Celebrate well. Do all the Christmas “stuff” () you
love, but do it /with a purpose. Wrap gifts not just lovingly for your
family, but for the toy drive /at your church. Decorate the tree /while
listening /to your favorite Christmas worship music. Send cards to older
friends and family //who will appreciate your thoughtfulness. Do
everything /with Christ’s love.
- Practice His presence. Pull away /from the
busyness /to reflect on what Christ means to you. Get a Christmas
devotional, show up /for church, and yes, read the Christmas story. Make
a plan to keep Christ /in the middle of your celebration.
* drive; 5. To make an effort to reach or achieve an objective; aim.
Now during December, I walk around with a secret: While the world
goes crazy /with all their plans,
I not only get to experience God’s
presence, but His pleasure, in the midst of it all.
*get to
1. To begin. Used with the present participle: 시작하다 got to reminiscing.
2. To start to deal with: 처리하기 시작하다didn't get to the housework until Sunday.
3. To influence or affect, especially adversely: 영향주다 The noise really gets to me.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, I don’t want to miss You in the midst of celebrating You.
Quiet my heart so that I may hear You in the midst of all the holiday
noise.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.